Paintball gun barrel construction

ABSTRACT

Gun barrel construction with bore surfaces defined by different curvature surfaces which, in conjunction with dynamic fluid pressure, serve to confine a spherical projectile against lateral displacement. Rotation is imparted to the projectile in a direction contra to projectile travel to enhance range of the projectile.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention pertains to paintball guns which fire a gas propelled projectile filled with a colored marking fluid with the projectile shell fracturing to indicate target contact.

In wide use presently are paintball guns typically used in mock combat by opposing teams. Other uses for marking with paintball fired projectiles may exist. The range of a paintball fired in mock combat averages 250 feet or so. Paintball gun bores typically are of circular cross-section with some having rifling. It has been found advantageous to paintball range to impart backspin to the spherical projectile which in one instance is achieved by propelling the projectile through a barrel having curved segments spaced therealong causing the projectile to engage an upper surface of the gun bore. Such a barrel is made and sold by Tippmann Pneumatics, Inc. of Fort Wayne, Ind. While a fired projectile from a conventional barrel may have a range beyond 200 feet or so, the accuracy of same deteriorates beyond 100 feet as the spherical ball has a tendency to vary from a true trajectory.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

The present invention is embodied within a gun barrel which provides for the guidance of a projectile along bore surfaces imparting rotation to the projectile while curtailing lateral movement of same during barrel passage.

The present invention serves to improve the accuracy and range of a gas propelled projectile by restricting the projectile against lateral movement during barrel passage. A pressure drop across a projectile during barrel passage results in maintaining contact of the projectile with linear surfaces of the gun barrel. The firing of a paintball by the release of air or gas pressure serves both to propel the paintball as well as bias same into contact with the barrel linear surfaces.

Important objectives include the provision of gun barrel design which contributes to the accuracy of flight of the spherical projectile by restricting lateral displacement of same during passage through a gun barrel; the provision of a gun barrel design which assures imparting a backspin to the projectile contributing to projectile range; the provision of a gun barrel design wherein bore defining linear surfaces serve as a track along which a projectile travels in a confined manner with a pressure drop across the projectile assuring maintenance of the projectile in contact with track surfaces.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the accompanying drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a gun barrel installed on a paintball gun;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the gun barrel of FIG. 1 removed from the gun,

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view of the barrel shown in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view of the barrel.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

With continuing attention to the accompanying drawings, the reference numeral 1 indicates generally a barrel of a paintball gun G. The barrel is threaded at 2 or otherwise provided for attachment to the gun. A gun barrel muzzle is at 3.

Vent means are shown as ports 4 provided at linearly spaced intervals along the barrel. As noted later, the vent means permits a pressure drop to promote rolling contact of a spherical projectile P with barrel surfaces.

In cross-section, as shown in FIG. 3, the barrel bore is vertically asymmetrical. A primary bore surface at 7 is formed on a primary radius 8. The paintball P is shown as being spherical but may be deformed somewhat by air or gas pressure during firing.

With attention again to the barrel bore, an upper portion of the bore is defined by upper arcuate surfaces 10 which constitute a track for paintball travel. Surfaces 10 are formed on radii at 12 and 13, having centers 14 and 15 offset from bore axis 16.

From the foregoing it will be seen, per FIG. 4, that upon release of compressed air or gas upon firing of the paintball gun, a pressurize drop will occur vertically across between areas A1 and A2 simultaneously urging the projectile toward the upper portion of the barrel and specifically into rolling contact with surfaces 10 imparting rotation of the projectile. Dynamic pressure occurring forward of the fired projectile will be vented through ports 4.

In one embodiment of the preferred form of the present gun barrel, the ports 4 are spaced in linear fashion at intervals of one inch with port diameter of 3/32 of an inch.

While I have shown but one embodiment of the invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the invention may be embodied still otherwise without departing from the spirit and scope of the claimed invention. 

1- A gun barrel receiving a spherical projectile including, an arcuate surface. surfaces of lesser curvature contiguous with the arcuate surface and along which a spherical projectile may travel, and vent means effecting a pressure drop across a moving projectile biasing the projectile into rolling contact with said surfaces. 2- A gun barrel for a spherical projectile and having a bore defined by a primary surface formed on a radius, secondary surfaces formed on radii greater than the radius of the primary surface and along which a spherical projectile travels, and vent means for effecting a pressure drop across a moving projectile to bias the projectile into rolling contact with said secondary surfaces. 3- A gun barrel for a ball shaped projectile and including a primary arc having a first radius, secondary arcs each formed on a radius greater than said first radius, said primary arc defining along with a projectile a space for a fluid flow acting on a projectile and urging same into contact with the secondary arcs imparting counter rotation to the projectile, and vents spaced in linear fashion along the barrel. 4- A gun barrel through which a spherical bullet travels, said barrel having a bore defined by a primary wall formed on a radius and secondary walls each formed on a radius greater than that of the primary wall to provide tracks along the barrel on which the spherical bullet travels in a guided manner in the presence of fluid pressure acting on the bullet and urging the bullet into rolling contact with the secondary walls imparting rotation to the bullet counter to the direction of bullet travel, and vent means in communication with the bore at a location intermediate said secondary walls. 